Improvement in fence-posts



'J. M. HARTLEY & J. F. DICKENS.

Fence-Post.

No. 204,565. Patented June 4,1878.

Fa'qf.

N-FUERS FHOTO-UTHDGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D 04 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES M. HARTLEY AND JOSEPH F. DICKENS, OF WAVERLY, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,565, dated June 4, 1878; application filed March 4, 1678.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES M. HARTLEY and JOSEPH F. DICKENS, of Waverly, Bremer county, Iowa, have invented an Improved Fence-Post, of which the following is a specification:

Our invention is a fence-post which may be readily constructed and erected, is cheap, strong, and durable, and to which the wires may be readily applied without interfering with their easy adjustment and removal.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing our improved fence-post with a brace and stake; Fig. 2, an enlarged transverse section of the upper portion of the post Fig. 3, a transverse section of the base, and Fig. 4 a section of the stake or thrust-piece.

The post consists of the upper malleablemetal portion A and lower cast-iron portion B, firmly secured together in any suitable manner. The upper portion is made from a sheet of thin malleable metal, bent to form a three-sided tube, tapering slightly from the lower end, the edges meeting each other, and in the sides, near the meeting edges, are coinciding holes a a, through which are passed wires 11, which are twisted, thus binding the edges together, the ends of the wires then serving to tie or twist round and secure the fence-wire m, as shown in Fig. 1.

The base B is formed in any suitable manner, and may be of wood or stone. It is preferable, however, to make it of cast-iron, with tapering wings 0 extending from a common center to penetrate the ground readily, and with a flat disk, d, at the top to insure steadiness.

In order to sustain the post when used as a straining-post, we use a brace, C, made by bending a strip to form a tube triangular in cross-section, the meeting edges being tied by wires in the same manner as the post.

A notch, 00, is made in the post near the upper end to receive the end of the brace, the

lower end of which bears between the converging wings of a cast-metal stake, I, X- shaped in cross-section, and tapering to apoint, so as to be readily driven.

It will be apparent that the above-described mode of construction enables the post to be cheaply made, without folding or lapping the edges, without seams or rivets; that itis light in weight, strong, and very durable when compared with other forms; that the method of fastening by wires avoids the weakening of the post by slots, and enables the fence-wires to be readily applied and removed.

It will further be apparent that both post and the stake may be readily driven into hard ground, and that the brace afiords a rigid, light, and effective resistance-piece to prevent any deflection of the post.

We are aware that posts of sheet metal bent to a V or L shape in cross-section are old. Our invention, however, relates to a mode of securing the edges of triangular-shaped posts by the same means that secures the wires.

We claim 1. A metal post consisting of a base, B, and a stem, A, of sheet metal, bent, perforated at a a, and tied by wires b, to prevent the separation of the edges and secure the wires 00, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the post, stem, or shaft A, base B, of cast metal, having a tapering stem, 0, and flat disk d, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The stake I, of cast metal, X-shaped in cross-section, and having tapering wings at an angle to each other, as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. HARTLEY. JOSEPH F. DICKENS.

Witnesses W. H. TYRRELL, W. G. RICHARD. 

